Multiple pintle hinge for overhead doors



July 2 1952 w. J. BOBISCH MULTIPLE PINTLE HINGE FOR OVERHEAD DOORS 2SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed May 21, 1948 W. J. BOBISCH MULTIPLE PINTLE HINGE FOROVERHEAD DOORS July 22, 1952 2 SPEETSSHEET 2 Filed May 21, 1948 PatentedJuly 22, 1952 William J. Bobisch, Altadena, Calif., assignor to The R.H. Osborne Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication May 21, 1948, Serial No. 28,360

Claims.

My invention relates generally to overhead door hardware and moreparticularly to suchhardware that is adapted to permit the installationof a door of this general type where there is a minimum of clearance.

The use of an overhead door on a garage has a number of advantages torecommend its installation, some of these being its ease and simplicityof operation, and its general freedom from being blown closed by a wind.However, to permit such an installation to be made on many existingbuildings, it is necessary that the door have hardwarewhich wmrequire aminimum of upward movement of the top of the door as the latter isopened'or closed. For example, in many garages the verticaldistance'betw'een the ceiling and the upper edge of the opening of thedoor is approximately six inches or less, providing a minimumofclearance or headroom. Cfonsequentlyif an overhead door is tobeinstalled insuch a garage, it is necessary that the hardware'be of I thetype. which does not requirethe upper edge=of the door to travel morethat thissmall distance vertically inmoving" from closed to-op'enposition. Previously, certain hardware has been available which meetsthis requirement but has permitted a relatively large portion of thedoor to extend outwardly beyond theouter face of the building when thedoor is in open position, this being known as overhang. Since a door ofthis type is rather delicately balanced, this overhang has prevented theuse of such hardware in localities where snow is likely to accumulateupon the projecting portion of the open door. Y

. It is therefore a major object of my invention to provide an improvedoverhead door construction.

Another'object of my invention is to provide an overhead doorconstruction which has a relatively small overhang, when open.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of thistype wherein the vertical space or'headroom necessary to operate'thedoor may be quite small, for example, fourinches.

Still another object of: my invention'is to provide such a door whose;.operation is ver-y smooth and easy, requiring aminimum of effort tomove it fromv one limiting position to another.

It is a still further objectof my invention to provide hardware foraxdoor of .this type which may be inexpensively manufactured, andinstalled by relatively unskilled labor. 1

2 from the drawings illustrating that form, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved hardware installed wherethere is a very small amount of headroom available for the operation ofthe door, the latter being shown in its closed position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the hardware shown in Fig. 1, itbeing understood that there is a similar set of hardware at the oppositeend of the door which is substantially identical to the set of hardwareshown;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 2,

but with the door in its open or upper limitin position; Fig. 4 is aschematic view of a similar but unsat isfactory type of hardware whichrequires additional headroom because of the absence of-the ofiset memberof one of the arms;

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a hardware constructecl'in accordancewiththe present invention showing the improved results obtained from the useof the offset pivotal connection;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the hardware I requirements andsubstantially complete absence of overhang. However, guideways ofthistype are always subject to jamming and stickingland are neversatisfactory from the standpoint of ease of operation. 'In' addition,the use of this type of hardware presents lvery' difficult problems inconnection withcounter-balancing the weightof the door, and while theseproblems are not insol-v ub1e,- they, combined with the disadvantages ofa guideway, rendera solution ofithis type impractical.

open to closed-position. This moveinen-tis similar to that obtained bythe use ofa parallelogram linkage, but, aswill be pointed out, 'otlierjmhveby this type'of linkage. 7

merits must be provided wa s e nnaessences.

4. In this diagram, a door Ill'is'pivotally attached at a point H to amain supporting arm I2, the other end of which is pivotally attached ata point [3 to the wall or other convenient supporting structure. Theforward or lower end of the door 10 is pivotally attachedat a point 14ato an auxiliary or guiding arm a whose other end is pivotally connectedto a point it to a wall or other similar rigid structure. As the door ismoved from its upper limiting position, shown in solid line andindicated by the letterA, the forward end of the door moves downwardlyand forwardly a considerably. greater distance than the central portionof the door, resulting in the doors being moved to the position shown indotted outline and designated by the letter A. The tipping of thedoorIt) results in its rear end being raised above itsnormal horizontalposition, requiring a considerable amount of headroom for a door of thistype. resents a considerable advance over the majority of overhead doorsnow in use, it still requires more headroom'than is often available whena door of this type is to be installed in an existing building. 7

.{ljhe principal causeof ,this excessive tipping of, the door isfoundinthe length of the auxiliary or guiding rod [5a whose length issuch that a given angular rotation of the arm causes aconsiderabletverticaltravel of the pivot point, I ia.

I have found'thatby providing .a member to off-.-

set the pivot point from the surface of the door, I am able to shortenthe lengthof the auxiliary arm I5a and thereby materially. improvethe-operation of. the door. r

In Fig. 5, I have illustratedschematically the construction andoperation ofa'door using my improved hardware, the door .ltl beingpivotally connected at-a point II to a main arm l2. whose other end ispivotally attached'to a wall or sup.-. At the forward or lower.

portingstructure I 3. end of the door 'I provide an offset member I!having a pivotal connection [4 at its lower or length .of the-auxiliaryarm l5, thereby decreasingits vertical travel downwardly for a givenangular rotation; Consequently, when the door I!) is moved from'itslimiting position, shown in ,full line and. designated by the: letter A,to the: position A, corresponding to the same position shown in Fig.lg-the rear. end of the door-is not appreciably raised but insteadremains at substantially the same elevation.

7 Turning now to the preferred embodiment of my inventionas illustratedin the remainingfiguresiof the drawings the numeral l0 designatesgenerally' a. doorof any suitable. and well known 'type adapted foroverheadoperation.

.Attachedto the door. l0. ata point ll isa main supporting arm l2 whichis also pivotallyattached at a point l3 to a pivot block;,2 0, that is,

While this type of construction rep- 4 firmly and rigidly held as by thestructure of the garage itself. An offset member I! is attached at thelower end of the door I0, and carries a pivot point M to which anauxiliary or guiding arm I5 is attached, the other end of this arm beingpivotally attached at a point IE to the previously mentioned pivot block20. These elements, with the exception of the pivot block Zil, will berecognized as being the same elements previously mentioned inconjunction with the diagrams of Figs.

4 and 5. In addition, I have illustrated a beam 2| extending across theopening of the garage,

"and a ceiling 22 or other member which impairs the headroom availablefor the operation of the hardware.

. garage which the door I!) is adapted to close.

As indicated in Figs. 1: and 6, the pivot block 20 is mounted on therear surface of the jamb 23, extending inwardly from the outer face ofthe garage and in a direction generally perpendicular to the door Illwhen the latter is in its closed position. As best shown in thesefigures and in Fig. 7, the pivot block 20 is preferably formed ofrelatively heavy sheet metal 28 which may have a generally trapezoidalshape with a vertically extending forward wall 24, substantiallyhorizontal upper and lower walls or edges 25 and 26 respectively, and anangularly positioned rear wall 21. As will become apparent, the shape ofthe pivot block 29; and its various walls is relatively unimportant solong as the relative positioning of the various pivot points ismaintained. The outer face 28 of the pivot block 20 is provided withholes I3a and Mia near its rear edge 21, these holes corresponding tothe pivot points l3 and I6 previously mentioned. The upper hole l3a islocated rearwardly of the lower hole [6a, the exact positioning of thesevarious holes being so correlated with the remainder of the hardware ina manner hereinafterdescribed as to produce the desired results.

surface provided by the boss is offset to provide the proper clearancebetween the arms I2 and I5. The hole 16a, on the other hand, is notsurrounded by a boss but instead is formed directly in the outer surface28. I

It will be appreciated that the sides 2 25, 23, and 2! of the pivotblock 2B act as reinforcing flanges to provide the latter with therequisite strength and rigidity. In addition, the forward wall 24 isprovided with generally horizontally extending slots 3! adapted toreceive lag screws, bolts; or other attaching means 32 for securelyholding thepivot block 20 th thejambl23. Ad- Ja ntt se 53 I prefertuform generally elliptical or vertically extending cut-outs 33 in theouter face 28 of the pivot block 20 to permit a wrench to be insertedfor tightening. the screws or bolts 32. In 'many. instances, theuse ofthe apertures 33.,Will be'unnecessa'ry since there will besufficientuclearancebetween the. jamb 23 and the side wall ofthegarageto. permit the insertion of a wrench in thatispace. However, where thereis insufiicient space-fertile free movement ofsuch a wrenchgtheapertures 33 may be used to considerable advantage. I 7 v 1 To insurethecorrectpo'sitioning of the pivot points :1 and I4 and the offset membern with respect to the door In, .-I-provide an attaching member 3 3preferably in. the form o fan angle memberiattachedfto the side. or'edge-ofthe door.

In addition, a boss is formed, adjacent the upper hole,l3a so that thebearing 5.. As indicatedin Figs. 1 to 3, the angle member 34 includesa'flange which is bolted or otherwise securely held to the rear orinside surface of the door It] while a perpendicular flangeextendsrearwardly, away from the surface of the door. At the properlocation, the width of the rearwardly projecting flange may beincreased, and a hole formed therein to receive a bolt or pin which actsas the pivot point II.

At the lower end of the angle 34, I mount the offset member II which ispreferably formed as a rearwardly projecting generally triangularlyshaped member attached to the rearwardly projecting flange of the anglemember as by bolting, riveting, welding, or other suitable means. At therearmost end of the offset member IT, a hole is formed to receive a boltor pin adapted to act as the shaft constituting the pivot point I4.

To form the main or supporting arm I2 extending between the pivot pointsII and I3, I preferably select a section of tube, pipe, or otherstructural form of sufficient strength, form a hole at one end thereofto receive the bolt II, and form another hole near the center to receivethe bolt or pin I3. This leaves a section of the arm I2'extending beyondthe pivot point I3 in a direction away from the door Ill, and anadjustable clamp 35 is s'ecurelyattached to the arm at a point betweenits end and the pivot point I 3. Near the base of the jamb 23 I mount anangle bracket 36 which is securely held to the jamb, and between theclamp 35 and the bracket 36 I place a helical tension spring 31. Whilethe spring 31 is herein shown as extending the entire distance betweenthe clamp 35 and bracket 36, it is to be understood that if desirable,the length of the spring may be shortened and'a tension adjusting membersuch as a turnbuckle inserted therein in the well knownmanner tocontrolthe force exerted by the spring. The spring 31 thus tends to rotate thearm I2 about the pivot point I3 in a clockwise direction, as seen inFigs. 1 and 2, while the weight of the door In opposes this rotation andtends to rotate the arm in a counterclockwise direction. Byproperlyadjust-- ing thetension of the spring 37, these two'opposingforces may be made substantially equal so that the door Illwill remainin either of its two limitin positions, but may be easily moved fro1 oneof those positions to the other. I

The auxiliary or guiding arm I5 acts principally arm I2, while theopposite or door end-is properly aligned with the offset member I1.

From a studyof the geometry of the hardware and its operation, it willbe seen that my improved overhead .door mounting may be used with doorsof any height provided that the pivot block 20 is'maintained apredetermined distance below the header or beam 2I. However, since thevariousiel'ements of the hardware are attached to the rear or inwardsurface of the door, while it is theouter surfacewhich bears against thebeam 2I and which would bear against-the ceiling '22 if the hardwarewere improperly: placed, provisionmustbe made for these variationsindoor, thickness". I have solvedfthis "problem 1 by mounting the pivotblock 20 a distance below the lower surface of the beam 2| equaltoxapredetermined fixed distance, plus the thickness of the door I0. Inthis way, I. am able to provide a set of mounting instructions whichmayeasily be followed by inexperienced personnel, while at the same timeproviding very satisfactory hardware which is suitable for doors ofdiiferent heights, the height of the door determining the amount ofoverhang which exists when'the door is in its open or upper. limitingposition.

' By way of example only and not as a limitation, I have foundthat ifthe following dimensions are used, very satisfactory results will beobtained. The pivot point I3 is located 10%" rearwardly from the rearface of the stud 23, and a distance equal to 26 plus the thickness ofthe door beneath the lower surface of the beam 2|. The pivot point I6which attaches the auxiliary arm I5 to the pivot block 20 is located 10below the pivot point I3 previously men'- tioned, and is located 5%rearwardly of the stud 23.

The pivot point I4 in the end of the offset member I1 is located 10rearwardly of the rear face of the stud 23, and that pivot point islocated 38" from the pivot point I5, measured along the auxiliary armI5. The pivot point II,

almost all of the standard size doors now in use.

The use of a quadrilateral linkage having these general proportionsgives rise to new and beneficial results in addition to the advantagesof reduced headroom. and clearance. It may be shown by experiment andanalysis that as the door I0 is lowered from its open position, theturning moment exertedby the door because of its weight increasesgradually until it reaches a maximum near the mid-position of the door.Thereafter the turning moment decreases until the door is completelyclosed, giving a moment curve having the general shape of a parabola,while the spring 31 exerts a turning moment upon the main supporting armI 2 in-a direction opposite to that provided by the door, the momentcurve of the spring generally following the moment curve of the door.However, because of the particular type of linkage used, the momentexerted by the door suddenly decreases as the fully closed position isapproached, while the moment of the spring decreases relativelyuniformly. As a result, a checking effect is had which slows-themovement of the door. as it is lowered, greatly reducing the possibilityof any banging or slamming. and also acting to render The action of theopening of the door easier. the spring 37 may be varied by changing itstension, moving 'thecollar 3 5 along the arm I2, and 5 by Shlftll'lgfithe point-of connection of the spring with respect to the axis of thearm I2. This latter action may be secured byproviding the collar.

35 with a series of connectingholes in themanner; illustrated, thus.making use of the means I and effect disclosed in the co-pendingapplication Q 5 .Qff RfilPh H.- Osborne, entitled .Improved. Hardwarefor Overhead Doo rs,f 1 Serial .No

fils i J l Y- 1 1:1947. now .Eabandoned.

forwardly from saidpivotblock. 2. Overhead door hardware whichincludesij a;

pivot point Mon the extension I1, I secure what I believe-to be theoptimum results. By'varying the variousidistances and ratios; the amountof headroom required and the amount of overhang thisconstructiomI' amable to'mount an over.-

headdoor where the clearance above the bottom of the bcam'zl is no morethan 3", and with a minimumiamount of overhang when the door is in itsopen position. While the actual amount of overhang. will vary withthethickness of the door, a seven foot door will project approximatelybeyond the vertical line passing through the pivot point '11, orexpressed differently, approxigmately 30" outwardly from-the rear faceof the stud 23. As the height of the door is increased, thisincreasewill be added, directly to the amount of overhang, but willseldom if ever become ob jectionable with doors of conventional size;

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, it isapparent that modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit of theinvention as defined herein. Consequently, I do notwish to be restricted V to the particular-form or arrangement of-.-parts herein described and my claims.

Iclaim: 1 7 W V 1. Overhead door hardware which includes: a pivot blockadapted "to be rigidly attached to a structure; a mounting plate adaptedto be rigidly attached to a door associated with. said structure; a mainsupporting arm pivotally attached to said shown, exceptas limited bypivot block adjacent thefrearwardmost part thereof, andpivotallyfattachedto said mounting plate; T

anofiset memberrigidly connected to said mounting-plate andextendingrearwiardly therefrom;. andan auxiliary arm pivotally attached tosaidpivot-block at a point forward of jthepivotal -31}.- tachment ofsaidmain supporting arm to said pivot block and tosaid offset memberadjacent the rearwardmost part thereof, and adapted to extend downwardlyand rearwardly from said pivot block 7 when said dcor'is in'averticalposition, while said main arm is adapted to extend downwardly and pivotblock a'dapted to be rigidly attachedito a' structure; a mounting plateadapted to be'rigid-f 1y attached'to a doorassociated with said struc'-.

I door: substantiallyhorizontally outward during.

1 rearwardly of said door and a second prede- V .termineddistancebelowthe top of said doorway;

a second pivotal support adapted to be attached said pivot blockadjacent the rearwardmost'part' thereof at a point locatedapredetermined distance rearwardly from said plate, and pivota-llyextending :rearwardly. therefrom; and-an au'xi-lia'ry.armpivotttllyattached to said "pivot block at a pointforwardlof th'e pivotal attachment of said mainarm; to saidgpivot block,and pivotally tit-- tachedfto saidaoffset member adjacentthefrearward'most partithereb f at a point located'said predetermineddistarice rearflwardly of said late; V t I wherebysaid auxiliary arm isadapted to extend th'1rd pivotal support, "thereby causingsaid door 8..downwardly and rearwardly from said pivot block' when said door is in avertical position.

3. Overhe'addoor hardware for a structure and a door associatedtherewith, the door being movable from a, vertical position closing thedoorway to an open, horizontal position at the top of the doorway, thehardware including:' a pivot block adapted to be rigidly mounted on saidstructure, having a first pivotal support at a point spaced rearwardly apredetermined distance from the rear surface of said door; a mainsupporting arm adapted'tobe pivotallyattached to said door at a pointadjacent the rear surface thereof and to said first pivotal support; anoffset member adapted to beri'gidly attached to said door near the loweredge thereof, having a second pivotal support located at a pointsubstantially vertically aligned with said first pivotal support whensaid door is in its vertical position; and an auxiliaryarmpivotallyconnected to said pivot block at a point forward of saidfirst pivotal support, and to said second pivotal support, whereby saidauxiliary arm is adapted to extend downwardly and rearwardly from saidpivot block when said door is closed. I

4. Overhead door hardware for a structure and a door associatedtherewith; the door being movable froma vertical position closing thedoorway to an open, horizontal position at the top of the doorway, thehardware including: a pivot block adapted to be rigidly connected tosaid structure and having first and second pivotal supports therein,said first pivotal support being located at a point spaced apredetermined distance rearwardly from said door, and said secondpivotal support being located at a point intermediate said door and saidfirst pivotal support and below the latter; a main arm adapted to bepivotally connected to said door and to said first pivotal support; andan auxiliary arm adapted to be pivotally connected to said door and tosaid second pivotal support, whereby a quadrilateral linkage is formedhaving the characteristic of moving said the first portion of; thetravel'thereof from open to closed position, said auxiliary arm, whensaid door is in closed position, extending downwardly andrearwardly-from said second pivotal support, while said main-arm extendsdownwardly and forwardly from said first pivotal support.

5. Overhead door hardware for a structure and a door associatedtherewith, the door being movable-froma vertical position closing thedoorway to an open, horizontal position at the top of the doorway, thehardware including: a first pivotal support adapted to be attached tosaid structure at a point located a first predetermined distance to saidstructure at a point located below said first pivotal supportandintermediate the latter and said door; a thirdpivotal' supportadapted'to be attached to saiddoor at a pointbelow said second pivotalsupport; a fourth pivotal support adapted to be attached to said door ata point located below'said third pivotal support and rearwardly thereofa distance equal to said first pre- 7 determined distance; amain armpivotally connected to said first .and third pivotal supports;

and an auxiliary arm 'pivotally connected to said second and fourthpivotalsupports, whereby said dooris'rotatable about said first pivotalsupport while; simultaneously being rotated about said to be held andmoved substantially horizontally while near its open position, saidauxiliary arm extending downwardly and rearwardly from said secondpivotal support when said door is closed, while said main arm extendsdownwardly and forwardly from said first pivotal support.

6. Overhead door hardware for a structure and a door associatedtherewith, the door being movable from a vertical position closing thedoorway to an open, horizontal position at the top of the doorway, thehardware including: a pivot block adapted to be attached to saidstructure and having a first and second pivotal support therein, saidfirst pivotal support being at a point located a first predetermineddistance rearwardly of said door and a second predetermined distancebelow the upper margin of said doorway, and said second pivotal supportbeing at a point located intermediate said door and said first pivotalsupport and below the latter; a connecting member adapted to be attachedto said door, having a third pivotal support at a point locatedimmediately adjacent the rear surface of said door and below said secondpivotal support; an offset member rigidly attached to said connectingmember, having a fourth pivotal support therein at a point located belowsaid third pivotal support and said first predetermined distancerearwardly thereof; a main supporting arm pivotally connected to saidfirst and third pivotal supports; and an auxiliary arm pivotallyconnected to said second and fourth pivotal supports, whereby aquadrilateral linkage is formed comprising a portion of said pivotblock, said main arm, said auxiliary arm, and said connecting member andsaid offset member, and said door is so guided by said linkage that saiddoor is held and moved substantially horizontally when near its openposition.

7. Hardware as described in claim 6 in which said pivot block is adaptedto be mounted so that said first predetermined distance is approximately82 units of length and said second predetermined distance isapproximately 212 units of length plus the thickness of said door, saidsecond pivotal support is approximately 81 units of length below and 41units of length forward of said first pivotal support, the distancebetween said first and third pivotal supports, measured along said arm,is 227 units of length, andthe distance between said second and fourthpivotal supports, measured along said second arm, is 304 units oflength.

8. Overhead door hardware of the class described, for a structure and adoor associated jacent the rear surface thereof and at a point 6 belowsaid second pivotal support; a fourth pivotal support adapted forattachment to said door at a point located said predetermined distancerearwardly of said third pivotal support and below the latter and at apoint near the lower end of said door; a main arm connected to saidfirst and said third pivotal supports for pivotal movement about theaxes of such pivotal supports with respect to said structure and saiddoor; and an auxiliary arm connected to said second and said fourthpivotal supports for pivotal movement about the axes of such pivotalsupports with respect to said structure and said door.

9. Overhead door hardware for a structure and a door associatedtherewith, the door being movable from a vertical position closing thedoorway to an open, horizontal position at the top of the doorway, thehardware including: a pivot block adapted for rigid mounting on saidstructure adjacent said door, said pivot block having a first pivotalsupport at a point located a predetermined distance rearwardly of saiddoor, and a second pivotal support at a point located between said firstpivotal support and said door and below said first pivotal support; amain supporting arm adapted to be pivotally connected to said door andto said first pivotal support; an offset member for rigid attachment tosaid door, having a third pivotal support located at a point near thelower end of said door and spaced rearwardly said previously mentionedpredetermined distance from said door; and an auxiliary arm pivotallyconnected between said second and third pivotal supports.

10. Overhead door hardware for a structure and a door associatedtherewith, the door being movable from a vertical position closing thedoorway to an open, horizontal position at the top of the doorway, thehardware including: a pivot block adapted for rigid mounting on saidstructure adjacent said door, having a first pivotal support at a pointlocated a predetermined distance rearwardly of said door, and a secondpiv otal support at a point spaced rearwardly from said door a distanceless than said first pivotal support and located lower than said firstpivotal support; a third pivotal support adapted to be attached to saiddoor at a point immediately adjacent the rear surface thereof, belowsaid second pivotal support; an ofiset member adapted to be connected tosaid door near the lower end thereof, said member carrying a fourthpivotal support at a point located said previously mentionedpredetermined distance rearwardly of said third pivotal support andlocated below said third pivotal support; a main arm pivotally connectedbetween said first and third pivotal supports; and an auxiliary armpivotally connected between said second and fourth pivotal supports.

WILLIAM J. BOBISCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,107,993 Fox Feb. 8, 19382,162,381 Guth June 13, 1939 2,259,819 Holmes Oct. 21, 1941 2,441,742Wread May 18, 1948

